When Li Youxi said that, Wen Jiayin did spot the person with the especially sharp gaze.
He was indeed tall, probably around two meters, and stood out in the crowd.
“…Relax, we’re on the same team, so I won’t be polite with you.
When they come after us, I’ll definitely use you as a human shield.” Faced with Li Youxi’s gloating, Wen Jiayin had to let her know what it meant to not always share the good times, but always share the bad!
Li Youxi’s smile froze on her face.
Wen Jiayin always did what she said, and she fully believed Wen Jiayin would actually do it.
“Hey, that’s so shameless of you!”
“Instead of worrying about my shamelessness, maybe you should think more about how we’re going to avoid those people later.
You don’t want to be swarmed by a bunch of people the moment we enter the secret realm, do you?” Wen Jiayin felt a chill run down her spine from all the eyes secretly watching her.
“What can I do about it? But once we enter the secret realm, the places we drop into are all random.
We might not even end up together, let alone them.
If you’re really unlucky and end up with them, that’s just fate.
Must be karma for all the bad things you’ve done!” Li Youxi didn’t forget to accuse Wen Jiayin.
“Don’t worry, Jiayin.
Once we’re in the secret realm, I’ll find you as soon as I can!” Zhi Chang’an comforted Wen Jiayin, and even shot Li Youxi a glare.
“Wuwuwu, Chang’an, you’re the best, way better than a certain someone we picked up along the way!” Wen Jiayin hugged her friend.
Chang’an really was her little sweetheart.
“Tch, who’s the one picked up along the way?” Li Youxi was glared at by Zhi Chang’an and grumbled, then shut up.
“Boom.”
The ground shook, and the clouds above churned, as if foreshadowing something.
“The secret realm is about to open.
Be careful when you go in,” the leading elder reminded everyone.
“Yes.” The disciples of Jingdao Sect responded in unison.
After another tremor, the ground quieted.
They waited a few minutes, then a stronger, continuous shaking started.
Some people who weren’t steady almost stumbled and fell.
Suddenly, a huge crack opened in the distant ground, and a curtain of light shone out from within.
“The secret realm is open.
Go in.”
As soon as the elder finished speaking, the crowd outside surged forward all at once.
Foundation Establishment cultivators flew in on their various magical tools, which was a bit better, but the Qi Refining cultivators who couldn’t fly had to squeeze in with everyone else, and the faster ones even bumped into each other.
“Let’s wait a bit before going in.
No rush.
Are there really treasures inside? Why is everyone rushing like that…” Li Youxi really didn’t want to squeeze in with the crowd.
She couldn’t understand why people would fight so hard for the things in such a small secret realm.
Kids like them, raised in the palms of the big sects, naturally couldn’t understand the ordinary cultivators who had to rely on luck and strength to get resources.
Even the most unremarkable blade of grass in her eyes could be exchanged for spirit stones.
For cultivators with scarce resources, of course they’d fight for it.
“That’s fine.” Wen Jiayin’s goal this time was the Misty Zone.
The other stuff didn’t matter, so it didn’t make a difference whether they went in early or late.
“This secret realm will be open for fifteen days.
After fifteen days, everyone will be forced out.
Remember that.” The Nascent Soul elder told a few Qi Refining kids who were eager but too scared of the crowd to go in.
“The sect doesn’t expect you to get any treasures in there.
Just come back safely.
Don’t be reckless or fight too hard.
If you die in the secret realm, no one can save you, understand?”
“Understood, Elder.
We’ll definitely come back safe.” Chu Mingqi gave a sweet smile.
When it came to pleasing elders, no one was better than her.
“Alright, there aren’t many people left.
Go on in.” The always stern elder finally softened a bit.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Li Youxi grabbed Wen Jiayin with one hand and reached for Zhi Chang’an with the other.
Before grabbing, she carefully checked Chang’an’s expression, and seeing no resistance, she pinched a bit of her sleeve.
Chu Mingqi, who wanted to say a few more words, saw the other three walking away and hurried to catch up with her group of followers and the Foundation Establishment bodyguard she secretly brought along.
She didn’t care about the treasures in this little secret realm; she just wanted to mess with Li Youxi.
Whatever they wanted, she would snatch it! If she could see them angry and helpless, that would be so satisfying!
Below the entrance to the secret realm was a bottomless abyss.
Wen Jiayin glanced down into the endless darkness and hesitated to step forward.
But Li Youxi didn’t hesitate at all and dragged her in.
Wen Jiayin lost her balance and leaned forward, and a sudden suction from the light curtain pulled her in.
Before Wen Jiayin could complain about Li Youxi, the blinding light made her close her eyes.
When she opened them again, she realized she was falling headfirst! She gasped and quickly adjusted her posture, barely avoiding a faceplant.
Once she landed, Wen Jiayin immediately checked her surroundings.
Ancient trees towered overhead, blocking out the sky.
Only the occasional sound of insects echoed, and there was no other movement.
It seemed like she was the only one teleported here! Just as Li Youxi guessed, they were separated.
Wen Jiayin took out her guiding artifact, which glowed with blue and gold lights pointing in different directions, indicating where the other two were.
After confirming the direction, Wen Jiayin stuck a speed talisman on herself.
As they agreed before, once in the secret realm, Zhi Chang’an would stay put in a safe spot, and the other two would head toward her.
“Clang!” Suddenly, a sword aura attacked Wen Jiayin from behind.
Having been ambushed like this countless times in the Demon Subduing Hall, Wen Jiayin reflexively raised her sword to block.
“Nice reflexes!” the attacker praised.
Wen Jiayin sensed something off about this person’s aura.
He didn’t feel like a proper cultivator—there was a faint demonic energy about him.
“Demonic cultivator?”
“Correct.
So here’s your reward: a quick death.” The man who ambushed Wen Jiayin wore the uniform of a small sect disciple.
This time, the secret realm actually let demonic cultivators sneak in with the sects! Wen Jiayin tensed up.
What bad luck—this was even worse than running into those sword cultivators looking for trouble.
Li Youxi really jinxed her…
Wen Jiayin raised her sword and focused.
“Don’t bother struggling.
Just give up, little girl.” The man took out a whistle and blew it lightly.
Figures flickered among the trees, and soon six people surrounded Wen Jiayin.
She didn’t know whether to praise the man’s caution—he actually called in six helpers to deal with one girl.
Including the attacker, there were seven people, most of them at Qi Refining level ten to twelve, with only one whose cultivation she couldn’t see—probably a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Suddenly, Wen Jiayin felt the ground beneath her feet turn soft.
She immediately jumped onto a nearby branch, just as a giant python made of earth lunged at her.
Wen Jiayin pushed off the tree, leaping upward and backward.
Her sword flared with fire, and she unleashed the first move of her sword technique, Thousand Winds Flash, right onto the python.
Her figure flickered like the wind, and in an instant, countless sword lights flashed across the python’s body.
By the time Wen Jiayin landed, the python had crumbled into dirt.
“Squawk!” A harsh crow’s cry sounded behind Wen Jiayin.
She barely had time to catch her breath before dodging.
Attacking her was a massive red crow made of what looked like blood…
That form was all too familiar! The memory of corpses strewn everywhere from years ago flashed in her mind.
The old man’s gentle smile was long gone, but she would never forget that pain.
In that moment of distraction, the blood-red crow swooped back at her face.
She vaguely heard the demonic cultivators talking: “That’s the personal disciple from Lingjian Peak.
If we bring her corpse back, we’ll get a big reward!”
“Zheng!” Suddenly, a note from a zither rang out, and with the sound came a bone-chilling cold.
The blood-red crow froze midair, turning into a block of ice.
Frost formed on the ground beneath everyone’s feet.
Ice? Wen Jiayin looked toward the source of the music and saw a girl in a jade-green dress, delicate and elegant, holding a guqin.
With a casual pluck of the strings, several ice blades appeared in a demonic cultivator’s chest, letting him experience what it meant to be chilled to the bone.
